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Gold and copper mining has been an active industry in the southwestern United States for over 100 years. While gold miners are still active in the southwest, Arizona has been one of the foremost copper mining areas in the last several years. Gold miners originally searched for gold in the area and ignored the rich reserves of copper. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that copper mines became active in the area.

The Bloody Basin originally got its name from conflicts between Native Americans and the United States army in the area during the late 19th century. No soldiers were killed but many Native Americans died during these conflicts. Today, the area is an active tourist and adventure site but it is still important to gold miners and copper miners. There are still active pockets of precious minerals in the area that area available for claims.

Placer mines are sold to prospective gold miners interested in the Bloody Basin area. Most claims are smaller and range from approximately 20 to 40 acres. Associated placer claims are also available with sizes of up 160 acres and require an additional placer claim for every 20 acres in addition to the associated placer claim. Gold miners can purchase placer claims from companies who have already paid the fees for the initial placer mine. Gold miners and copper miners can also purchase an annual maintenance fee which ensures that they retain the ownership rights to their claim over time.

When gold miners purchase claims, they are purchasing the rights to the precious minerals in the land. They do not own the land itself. This is a common source of confusion because most land transactions don’t work in this way. The land itself is actually owned by the Federal Government and is regulated by the Bureau of Land Management. Gold miners and copper miners can camp out on the site for a designed number of days when they aren’t actively mining. Otherwise, the miners must work with the Bureau of Land Management to plan living temporary living quarters for miners while mining operations are active.

There are many factors to consider when looking for promising gold mining claims. Gold prospecting is complicated but can be very rewarding if a good claim is identified. One of the most important factors in gold prospecting is finding a mineral rich area. These areas are much more likely to have high gold content. High gold content is often related to the presence of mineral rich black sands. These sands can contain gold and particles of other minerals. Some minerals in black sand include hematite and magnetite. Black sand is heavier that white sand due to its mineral content.

During gold prospecting, experts often recommend that prospectors look for the presence of mineral rich black sands. These sands are common in many creeks, but they don’t guarantee the presence of gold. Gold prospecting is a complex process and no one piece of information will lead you to a rich gold sources. In some areas of the country, finding black sands can lead you to a rich source of gold. Dig deeply in the area because as you go deeper, you will get more information about the soil. If the black sand is present in large quantities deeper in the ground, this is a good indication that you are near a good source of gold. When you’re gold prospecting, look for black mineral sands where they’re most often found; common locations include the area around boulders and creek bends.

Don’t merely rely on black sand. It’s necessary to follow other guidelines during gold prospecting. While looking for gold mining claims, prospectors should perform other tasks. To find mineral rich areas, prospectors should also examine the rocks that are exposed by the stream’s erosion. Rocks with a non-sedimentary layering are good gold prospecting indicators. The prospector should also examine the formation of stream paths and rock formations. Pay streaks, or rich gold sources, are often located in areas where the water flows downward. There are many other considerations when it comes to gold prospecting, but finding mineral rich black sands is a good factor to consider.

There are several types of gold mining claims, but placer claims and lode claims are the most common. Keep in mind that mining laws differ from country to country—even state to state. In general, a gold mining claim grants the discoverer of gold the right to mine on public land in the United States.

Keep in mind that gold found on federal lands requires a federal claim, and state claims may only be staked on state-owned and managed lands. (Federal minerals are managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.) Privately owned land or wild life refuges are not available for mining and any claims made on these lands will be deemed invalid. Other exemptions include National Parks, Indian Reservations, and national monuments.

An important implication in gold mining claims is something called the Prudent Man Rule which was established in 1872 and is still recognized in 19 states. The rule puts forth that any reasonable man would want to invest time and money into mining a valuable discovery, which basically means that U.S. citizens are entitled to prospect for mineral deposits. The gold mining claim, however, does not entitle the prospective miner to own the land or water where his discovery was made, but merely grants the holder with the right to extract valuable minerals within the land claimed.

A gold mining claim staked on federal lands must follow federal rules. Generally, the size of the claim is limited to 20 acres. Procedures for staking the claim include marking the area with a post or a rock at least 3” in diameter and 3” above the ground. The marker must be erected in the northeast corner (known as the “Number 1 corner”) where a location notice must be placed. Three additional markers must be placed at the corresponding corners of the claim and they must be numbered in a clockwise direction.

The location notice that is attached to the number 1 corner should include the name of the claimant or company and the date, describe the claim in square feet and include a description of the area. You should also indicate whether it is a lode or placer claim. A placer claim is for minerals found on the surface. A lode claim indicates the claimant intends to dig for minerals in the ground and create a well or shaft.

Within 45 days, the proper paperwork must be filed with the appropriate government agencies—such as the Bureau of Land Management or the office of the land manager. All filing fees must be paid, with special attention paid to other requirements set forth by the state or country.

Purchasing a gold mining claim can make the process easier, but keep in mind there is only value to someone else’s claim when you can prove there is pay dirt on the property. It’s important to discuss the details of a deal before you start mining. 10% to the owner of the claim is common, with 90% going to the miner.